Richard Marceau, an 11th-generation Quebecker from a staunch Roman Catholic family and a former Bloc Québécois parliamentarian, is a Jew by choice.

He converted to Judaism in 2004 after a long process, but his spiritual odyssey began after he met a Toronto Jewish woman who opened “the door to a people, a nation, a culture and a religion that I grew to love.”

Marceau’s discovery of a faith and a community that are now an integral component of his identity is set out in his memoirs, A Quebec Jew: From Bloc Québécois MP to Jewish Activist (Editions du Marais). Originally published in French, the English-language edition is scheduled to be launched in Toronto in a couple of weeks.

A lawyer who currently works for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs as a senior adviser, Marceau wrote A Quebec Jew to dispel “misconceptions” French-Canadians hold about Jews.

“Ninety eight per cent of the Quebec Jewish community lives on the island of Montreal,” he explained. “Consequently, not many French Quebeckers have interacted with Jewish people and therefore hold many misconceptions about us Jews. I saw the need for a book on Jews, Judaism and Israel written by a Quebecker, for Quebeckers, using Quebec cultural references.”

Marceau used his own personal story to draw a portrait of Jewish history, culture and Israel and to tear down stereotypes about Jews.

He decided to write A Quebec Jew after attending sessions of the Bouchard-Taylor commission, which was convened to study the fraught issue of “reasonable accommodation” in the province.

“The majority of interveners were moderate, but some made it clear that to be a Quebecker, one needed to be a pure laine. I decided to tell my story to show that one can be a proud Quebecker and part of this fantastic, francophone, unique and distinct society while being a deeply committed Jew.”

A Quebec Jew has been well received. “So far, so good,” he noted, saying that major French-language newspapers in Quebec have covered it. “Now I’m working on a tour of Quebec to reach out to, and talk with, people who don’t have many opportunities to interact with Jews.”

Born in Charlesbourg, Que., on Aug. 25, 1970, Marceau is deeply rooted in Quebec, his French ancestors having arrived in the colony of New France in 1635. His father, after whom he is named, is a former civil servant and a practising Catholic. His late mother, Michelle, was a homemaker.

Educated by priests in Quebec City, Marceau graduated from law schools at Laval University and the University of Western Ontario. He also studied at the Ecole Nationale d’Administration in France.

In 1997, at the age of 26, he was elected to the House of Commons. A sovereignist, he represented the Bloc Québécois in the riding of Charlesbourg. Re-elected in Charlesbourg-Jacques-Cartier in 2000 and 2004, he lost his seat in the 2006 federal election. For the next five years, Marceau worked for a pro-Israel lobby group, the Canada-Israel Committee.

An agnostic, he met his future wife, Lori Beckerman, a secular Jew and a fellow law student, while participating in an exchange program at the University of Western Ontario. Although they seemed to have little in common, they fell in love.

He had no intention of converting to Judaism when he was married, but eventually changed his mind. “I wanted to be part of this ancient religion that has given birth to Christianity and Islam, this philosophy that has attracted me by its emphasis on the family, helping one another and asking questions and reasoning.”

Marceau converted in a Reform ceremony, but after becoming much more observant and traditional, he went through an Orthodox conversion.

“My conversion was simply a coming home of sorts,” he said. “Many years before, a Jewish man I deeply respect told me I had a Jewish soul.”

He acknowledged that his father did not react well to his conversion.

“It was hard, and is still hard, for him. Put yourself in his shoes. How would you feel if one day your Jewish son told you he was converting to Christianity.”

To Marceau’s four siblings, his conversion was not really an issue, since they are fairly indifferent to religion.

“As for my former constituents, I received one letter of disapproval.”

Nonetheless, as he writes in A Quebec Jew, “becoming a Jew … meant becoming a member of a community that an important segment of Quebec society viewed with suspicion and undoubtedly ignorance.”

The Quebeckers to whom he refers do not know Jews, he observed. “They don’t know our exceptional contribution to Quebec. And they don’t know Israel.”

Antisemitism exists in Quebec, he said, but Quebec is not an antisemitic society.

Marceau, his wife and two teenaged sons, Michel and Olivier, live in Quebec, across the Ottawa River from the nation’s capital. “Lori and I wanted our children – who are fluently bilingual – to grow up in a French environment.”

A regular visitor to Israel, and a fluent Hebrew speaker, Marceau describes himself as “a pro-Palestinian Zionist.”

He explained: ”I do not believe that being pro-Israel means I cannot be pro-Palestinian. They are not mutually exclusive. I will not fall into the trap of seeing the situation there as a zero-sum game. I believe in the right of the Jewish people to have a state in their ancestral homeland, and I support the Palestinians’ legitimate national aspirations.”

Although he considers Israel as “a beacon of freedom, gender equality and democratic principles,” he is troubled by the current “ugly debate” in the Jewish state over the place of women and opposes the Orthodox monopoly over religious functions.

A separatist who remains dissatisfied with Quebec’s place in Canada, he says he would most likely vote yes should there be another referendum.

He claims the Bloc Québécois has always had a “fairly balanced” policy toward Israel, despite strong internal and external pressures to be much more critical of Israel.

“We have Gilles Duceppe to thank for that balanced position,” he noted in a reference to its former leader. “I expect his successor, Daniel Paille, with whom I have been to Israel, to maintain a similar position.”

The Hill Times, a Canadian weekly newspaper that covers that country’s politics, recently came out with its annual edition of the country’s 100 most influential people in government and politics. John Baird, Canada’s Conservative 42-year-old foreign minister, was listed as number three.

“If you weren’t in politics, what would you want to be doing,” Baird was asked in the magazine interview. “Likely working on a kibbutz in Israel,” was his reply.

Anyone who heard Baird either in private conversation or public appearances this week – he was in Israel for diplomatic meetings and to take part in the Herzliya Conference – would not be surprised by his answer.

The man, appointed Canada’s foreign minister in May 2011, likes Israel – a lot.

And Baird is not the only one. Since Stephen Harper became the country’s prime minister in 2006, Canada went from being a middle-of-the-road friend of Israel – somewhere between the US and the European Union – to setting the gold standard for support of the Jewish state. There is not a government on the planet today more supportive of Israel than Harper’s Canada.

And the love runs both ways. According to the personable and informal Baird – he came out of the elevator for this interview at his Tel Aviv hotel without security guards, dressed casually, looking like just another tourist, and was introduced simply as “John” – one of the frustrations of the political life is a lack of appreciation.

“The amount of warmth and love for Canada here in Israel is just unbelievable,” he said. “I was told about this beforehand, but it has been a real pleasure because often you will do things and deliver things for your own constituents and not get a lot of appreciation. But holy moly, that certainly is not the case here.”

What follows are excerpts of the interview with Baird.

You said in your speech this week at the Herzliya Conference that Israel has no better friend in the world than Canada. Where is that coming from? Is it Prime Minister Harper? Is it yourself? Is it the Canadian people? Because it hasn’t always been this way.

First and foremost it is some of the prime minister’s leadership. There is no moral ambiguity; he’s not one who believes in moral relativism. The prime minister’s leadership is very strong on this. There are a number of ministers – I’m one – who feel very passionately about Israel.

I can recall being here once [a number of years ago] and talking to the Canadian ambassador and asking why Canada is so against Israel. “What do you mean,” he said. I said, “all these resolutions at the UN.” When he said they don’t mean anything, my response was, “Well if they don’t mean anything why do we vote for them?” And his reply was, “Oh that just happens every year.”

There are a lot of Canadians who agree with us; some disagree with us. But Mr. Harper has said this, and I have said it many times too, that too often in the past Canada’s [foreign policy] is just “go along to get along.” And it is easier to do that. If someone asked in the past about Canada’s foreign policy, the working assumption would be that it is whatever our historical policy has been and what the international consensus is among our allies. But now we base it on values and principles.

Is this coming from a religious place for the prime minister? Is this religious-based support?

No, I don’t think so. It is very similar to me. After the Holocaust it is tremendously important for there to be a Jewish homeland, a Jewish state that can be a place of refuge. In this region today there is only one liberal democracy, only one place that values and respects democracy, human rights and the rule of law. And that is our ally.

My grandfather went to war in 1942 – the big struggle of his generation was fascism and then communism. The great struggle of my generation, of our generation, is terrorism. Too often Israel is on the front line of that struggle, and it is tremendously important that we take a principled stand and support our friend and ally.

How well does that resonate in Canada?

We certainly don’t do it for electoral advantage. It is not an electoral winner. Foreign policy is not a big issue in Canadian politics.

How about the Jewish vote?

There are 2,800 Jews in my constituency in Ottawa. I have 11,500 Muslims and Arabs. The Arab and Muslim population is much larger. So I don’t think we do it for electoral reasons. We’ve gotten great support from the Jewish community in Canada, which we value, but it is not done with an electoral calculation in mind.

Has it, or could it, hurt you politically?

When you stand up for your values and you do something that is basically right, you are never hurt.

How about around the world? Is Canada’s stature diminished in Europe because of your support for Israel?

If, as the minister of foreign affairs, my job was to wake up in the morning and ask how to be popular, this probably wouldn’t be the way to do it. But at the same time it is not an albatross by any stretch. There are some who don’t share our views, who don’t agree to our intervention in international forums with unbridled enthusiasm.

I was in the [Persian] Gulf for five days in late November and one of the Canadian reporters said, “Baird is going to the Gulf and this [Canada’s support for Israel] will be the elephant in the room for the entire five days.” No one brought it up. No one.

People may disagree with our position, but they respect that we have differences. There are folks who didn’t agree with me. I don’t agree with them on everything. That doesn’t mean I stick my finger in their eye at every meeting, and vice versa.

How about with Europe?

Certainly Prime Minister Harper fought very hard for a balanced statement on the conflict at the G-8 [last may in France, when Canada was instrumental in softening a statement on the Middle East and keeping out any mention of the pre-1967 lines as a basis for an Israeli-Palestinian agreement]. Of course it would just be easier if Canada would just shut up, sit in the corner and not cause any problems. But we got good support from President Obama, for example, on that.

But isn’t it harming your stature in the world? Didn’t you lose a 2010 vote to join the Security Council because of it?

There is no doubt that it was unhelpful in the Security Council. I don’t think you could say there was one particular reason [why Canada lost to Portugal for a temporary seat on the Security Council]. But that was certainly one of the reasons.

How about ties with Washington? When there was considerable tension here between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, did Canada have any role to play in smoothing things over or running interference?

I hope there is never a day when the prime minister of Israel needs the intervention of the prime minister of Canada in Washington.

You said that Canada is Israel’s greatest friend in the world. Where is the US in this?

I think the US is a good friend, too. I like to think we are better.

In what sense? A stronger friend

How does that manifest itself?

Take the G-8 communiqué. It made reference to President Obama’s speech. It made reference to certain things he said in the speech. But if you want to talk about 1967 borders with land swaps, let’s talk about Israel as a Jewish state. If you want to talk about this, we can talk about a future Palestinian state being demilitarized. If you want to talk about the speech, we’ll talk about the speech. If you want to be general we can be general. If you want to be specific, we would want some of those more favorable comments toward Israel included in the communiqué.

So you were out in front of the US on that issue?

Yes. President Obama was very supportive in the end.

Regarding the diplomatic process with the Palestinians, are we stuck conceptually? We have been trying the same thing since Oslo and it hasn’t moved. Is there anything you can recommend to do things differently?

I wouldn’t say we haven’t come very far since Oslo. I visited Ramallah, and there is a Palestinian Authority with a president and prime minister. Their capacity on security has improved immeasurably in recent years.

But the whole paradigm that we can negotiate a solution…

I don’t think there is any other alternative. It may be an unattractive one, but it is the best and only. I don’t know how anyone can impose peace; I don’t know how anyone can impose security. At the end of the day you want an agreement and a solution, but you also want to be able to shake hands and live in peace and harmony. Other than negotiations, I don’t know any other way to do it.

Two years ago Canada cut its funding to UNRWA.

Some at the UN have treated Canada like an ATM – we are the 17th-largest economy, but the seventh-largest contributor [to the UN].

But does the change in your UNRWA policy represent a thinking that we may have reached the time where Palestinian refugees should be settled permanently and not left in refugee camps?

I am not going to step on that landmine. I was just in Davos and had a long chat with one of my predecessors from the other party, John Manley. He made some statements on that [in 2001], and they burnt him in effigy in Ramallah. So I think I will choose my words on that very carefully. [Manley at the time said Canada was prepared to accept Palestinian refugees as part of a peace plan and to contribute to an international fund to assist with their resettlement.]

I had a conversation with a European diplomat recently who said one way to get the Palestinians back to negotiations would be to use financial contributions as leverage. He said European public opinion would never allow it. Should that be considered?

We have a $300 million development partnership with the Palestinian Authority, and by and large it is going toward increasing their capacity in security, police, justice, forensics – and I think those things are all positive. They are all good things for the Palestinian people and, I think, good things for the Israeli people as well. So let’s not cut off our nose to spite our face. We want to see a vibrant, prosperous, secure [Palestinian] state. They are developing that right now and we are keen in helping them do that. It is in Israel’s advantage as well.

I think the bulk of our investments are accomplishing good things. I think Prime Minister [Salam] Fayyad’s government is a quiet success story. The security situation in the West Bank has improved immeasurably. The economy there has improved by leaps and bounds, and that is in everyone’s interest.

Obviously we have strong differences of opinion in terms of going to the UN; we think it is the wrong way to go. But I don’t think you can threaten either side just encourage them.

But if you don’t threaten the sides, how do you get them back to the table?

Look at what happened at the end of 2000 [after the end of the Camp David talks]. There was all this external pressure for a deal, and when it collapsed it was not pretty scenario on the ground here afterward [the Second Intifada erupted]. I think we can encourage both parties to go back to the negotiation table. You are more likely to make progress by trying than not trying, and engaging rather than not engaging.

In your speech at Herzliya you quoted Winston Churchill about the dangers of appeasing fascism. Is the west today appeasing terrorism?

I think terrorism is a scourge and it requires leadership to confront it. There is no room for moral ambiguity. It is the great struggle of our generation.

I was down in Sderot earlier today. Terror is not exclusively the death count, or those who are injured. What does a mother say to a child who can’t go to sleep at night because he is so scared? There are teachers teaching games to their students on what to do when they have 15 seconds [to get to a bomb shelter]. There is culture of fear that results from terrorism and the threat of terrorism. It is hard to quantify it. We can say “x number of people were killed in this or that incident” but there is a culture of fear that has gripped far too many people around the world.

Has the West adequately stepped up to the plate to deal with it?

I think Canada has. We have been very clear. We listed Hamas as a terror entity and won’t have any contact with them. I think that is the right thing to do.

You met this week with the Palestinian leadership; what was your message to them?

Look, there are many areas where we have agreements, areas where we have substantive disagreements. I am very impressed by Fayyad’s public administration skills. I think many of us in the West have taken note of his leadership and financial accountability and success in economy and security. He is certainly a good, strong leader who gets results.

With President [Mahmoud] Abbas we agree with him on many things and we disagree with him on others. That is what diplomacy is all about. I found President Abbas to be very honest and up front, and I found that quite refreshing.

What would Canada’s policy be if he formed a government with Hamas?

We don’t support terrorism. That is our policy and it is crystal clear.

Would you cut off contact with the PA?

We just will not work with terrorists.

How about Israel?  What would you like Netanyahu to do now that he is not doing to move the process forward?

I had a good meeting with the prime minister. We had a good exchange. I think good friends should have conversations and be honest with each other. I was [honest] with him and he was with me, and I’ll leave that private.

What about freezing settlement construction?

I think unilateral action on either side is unhelpful. I will have to go through my newspaper clippings and see if there was great kudos when they did it the last time for 10 months; or great kudos when they withdrew from southern Lebanon; or withdrew from Gaza. I think the key is to return to negations without preconditions and, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said in his UN speech, stop negotiating about negotiations.

Turning to Iran, how little do we know about what is going on there?

What we know is that this is a regime that is enriching uranium and that has a clear nuclear arms program underway. That is undisputable. We know that Iran’s support of international terrorist organizations in the region – whether it is Hamas, Hezbollah or Palestinian Jihad – is an absolute disgrace and causing more problems.

Iran supports a lot of evil and violence in this region particularly. And we know it has a disgraceful human rights record that is frankly deteriorating.

And as a result, what should be done now?

We need to take every single diplomatic measure to put pressure on the regime to take a different course. Obviously our first choice would be to see the Iranian people make change themselves.

Did the West err in 2009 in not more actively supporting the protest movement inside Iran?

I wasn’t the foreign minister at the time, so I didn’t follow it close enough to give you a substantive answer. Change is always better if it comes from within. We learned that from Libya. But Iran is the one thing that is omnipresent in foreign policy today.

What does that mean?

It and Syria are obviously the two subjects discussed at virtually every meeting, every forum, with every counterpart. Obviously it is a huge threat to the world.

We don’t just fear that Iran would like to acquire nuclear weapons and we don’t just fear that this would lead to an arms race by others trying to counterbalance them.

I fear that they would use them. Too often, people share these types of things with their friends, and these people have the worst circle of friends in the world today. They are incredibly dangerous, and of that we have no doubt.

Are you concerned about a backlash against Jews if oil prices rise to $150 a barrel as a result of sanctions against Iran?

I don’t see the correlation. I used to look at Iran through the prism of Israel. But the fear of much of the Arab world on Iran is palpable. It is a threat to Canada. It is a threat to entire international peace and security.

How is it a threat to Canada?

A nuclear arms race in this region threatens the whole world. If they use nuclear weapons on a friend or an ally, on one of our best friends, that is unimaginable.

I think we have seen a new anti-Semitism emerge around the world – delegitimizing the state of Israel. We see it popping up in Canada: Israeli apartheid week on universities. It is all to delegitimize Israel.

There was a political issue in Toronto where they have quite a large gay pride parade, and they had a “queers against Israeli apartheid” float. Outside of Israel, what is the record of any of Israeli neighbors on those [gay] issues?

This is not to say that everyone who protests Israel is anti-Semitic, but everyone who is anti Semitic certainly protests, or tries to delegitimize the state of Israel, and we can’t be silent about that.

The most horrifying thing at Yad Vashem in many respects is not the end of your tour of the museum, but the beginning. That’s the lesson I took away from it. Anti-Semitism would sort of show its face among non-élites here and there, and then grow to stereotypes in school text books and popular culture, and then escalate into a little bit of vandalism and violence. And then you see, gradually, step by step, the state started to turn its back and eventually lead these efforts. That’s why I think we have to treat these things very seriously.

Yesterday at Yad Vashem the rabbi said it was the 79th anniversary of Adolf Hitler becoming chancellor. He wrote Mein Kampf 12 years before that. None of this was a surprise or a secret. So if you have the president of Iran making these outrageous statements and then trying to acquire nuclear weapons – I mean, what more do you need to inspire fear of the potential consequences?

It would be easier to just shut up and hope for the best, but that’s not the best way to conduct foreign policy.

That’s what a lot of people are doing.

And that is a big mistake, and why we are speaking up in the strongest terms.

I was in the Old City two years ago with a Canadian friend and he ran into a family friend, a young French kid in the IDF doing his service. He may have been 25. He was the victim of a hate crime in France, had the pulp beat out of him, and the rising trend of anti-Semitism caused him and his family to make aliya and come to Israel.

France? In the 21st century this family uproots themselves and moves to a different continent because of that? So I am concerned about the new rise of anti-Semitism taking different forms. And that should be deeply disturbing for any fair-minded human being.

Are we appeasing Iran?

Canada and Israel are not.

::JPost

Among the VIP attendees were Israel’s ambassador to Canada, Miriam Ziv, and Canada’s ambassador to Israel, Paul Hunt. Also in attendance were MP Prof. Irwin Cotler, former MP (and incoming chair of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research) Mario Silva, Canadian-Israeli developer and philanthropist David Azrieli and his wife Stephanie, Toronto philanthropist Leslie Dan and his wife Anna, Fran and Ed Sonshine (leaders of the Canadian Friends of Yad Vashem), Henry and Maureen Molot of Ottawa, Ruby and Faygie Zimmerman of the UIA Canada Israel Residents Committee, and Richard Stone (chairman) and Malcolm Hoenlein (executive vice chairman) of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The reception was chaired by David Koschitzky of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and co-sponsored by the Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation (represented by President and CEO, Dr. Henri Rothschild).

Key highlights from the evening’s speakers include:

“Canada’s principled and very clear voice in support of morality in the Middle East and in support of Israel – gives us strength to persevere in our national struggle for recognition, security and peace. Prime Minister Harper and his government have demonstrated their friendship for us in so many brave ways, and we are very, very appreciative!”

– Moshe Yaalon, Israel’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs

“Along with Prime Minister Netanyahu, I was privileged to have private hour with Ministers Baird and Flaherty earlier this week. It was just the four of us in the room. I don’t think that I have ever participated in a meeting of such emotional power and resolve. Your support for Israel is unparalleled and so worthy of admiration. We wish that we could clone Canada or get you another 50 seats at the United Nations!”

– Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s Minister of Finance

“Tonight we celebrate the current high point in Canada-Israel relations – across a broad spectrum of political, diplomatic, defence, security, intelligence, commercial, scientific and cultural relations. Canada and Israel share core values and many strategic interests. The Jewish community is proud to play a role in advancing the bilateral relationship; a relationship that is cemented by many family and philanthropic ties.

“The visit here this week of our Foreign Minister, the Honorable John Baird, and our Finance Minister, the Honorable Jim Flaherty, is yet one more manifestation of the deepening and intensifying ties that bind our two countries. It is a great pleasure to welcome you tonight, Ministers Baird and Flaherty, and to salute you and our Prime Minister Stephen Harper for your staunch friendship to Israel.”

– David Koschitzky, Chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

“Of the 2,000 or more political events and receptions that I have been to in my life, this was by far the very best. I truly feel the powerful message of appreciation for Canada expressed all of you here tonight from government and all walks of Israeli life; the very many of you who excitedly shook my hand tonight and thanked me for supporting Israel. I want you to know that while I am not Jewish, I love every minute of my stay in Israel, and Canada will always stand shoulder-to shoulder with Israel, especially when it faces critical security challenges and has to defend itself. Israel has no greater friend than Canada!

“I am often asked: Why is it that our prime minister and our government believe so deeply and so passionately in Israel’s right not only to exist, but also to exist as a Jewish state and to live in peace and security? Why is it that our prime minister has said that ‘those who threaten the existence of the Jewish people are a threat to all of us?’

“Well, the state of Israel embodies principles that Canada values and respects. It is a beacon of light in a region that craves freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law; a region currently replete with dictators, autocrats and oppressors who defy those basic principles and values.

“It is also, in no small measure, because Canada recognizes the long and unbroken history of anti-Semitism, and because Israel today is a country whose very existence is under attack both literally and figuratively. Whether it be from rockets raining down on Israeli schools, or the constant barrage of rhetorical demonization, double standards or delegitmization, Israel is under attack. We must be relentless in exposing this new anti-Semitism for what it is.

“When Israel—the only country in the world whose very existence is under attack—is consistently and conspicuously singled out for condemnation, I believe we are morally obligated to take a stand. For a country like Canada, the easy thing to do would be simply to go along with anti-Israeli sentiment, to get along with other countries. It would be easier to pretend that engaging in anti-Israeli rhetoric is being somehow even-handed, and to excuse it under the false pretense of being an honest broker. It would be easier to get votes, too, as taking a stand—even in defence of a friend—often risks offending someone. Yes, it would be much easier for us to simply ‘go along to get along.’ But Canada will not ‘go along to get along.’ We will defend Israel’s right to exist, in the strongest of terms and with the full weight of Canada’s ‘smart power.’”

– John Baird, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Keynote Speaker

It is possible to prevent 60 percent of cancer deaths by lifestyle changes, early diagnoses and proven medical interventions, according to the Israel Cancer Association.

The ICA is marking International Cancer Day on February 4.

Every year, 12.7 million people around the globe are diagnosed with cancer, and 600,000 die in an average month, a total of 7,200,000 a year. Estimates are that as the population ages, the world death rate from cancer will reach 12 million by the year 2030.

In Israel, 28,000 people – adults and children – are diagnosed yearly, and about 10,000 of them die of it. These figures, said the ICA, have not only huge personal implications but also major economic and societal effects.

The World Health Organization has stated in advance of the international day that of 57 million cases of death in 2008, 36 million resulted from non-communicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes complications. If nothing is done to fight tobacco, the WHO says, the annual number of deaths caused by smoking will rise from 3.4 million now to 6.3 million in 2030.

The World Economic Forum in 2011 said obesity raises per-capita expenses for medical care by 36 percent, smoking by 21% and heavy use of alcohol by 10%. All of these increase the risk of death from cancer. Annual world expenditure for treating noncommunicable, lifestyle diseases is $30 trillion, it added. The forum said in 2009 that noncommunicable diseases is one of the greatest threats on the world economy. People with chronic diseases work as many as six hours less per week.

ICA Director-General Miri Ziv said that despite the worrisome statistics, scientific studies show that six cancer deaths out of 10 can be prevented by living a healthful life, early diagnosis, immunizations and adequate national allocation for interventions that have been proven effective.

Cancer is the most damaging disease to the economy. The financial cost of 13 million new cancer patients each year was $290 billion in 2010. The figure is expected to reach $458b. in another 18 years.

There was good news, though. Breast cancer survival rates per year in Israel grew from 80.5% in 2002 to 86% in 2008.

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) called on the various national government to allocate money to apply the International Cancer Treaty in their health systems and reduce death from cancer and other non-communicable diseases by a quarter in 2025.

The ICA pointed out that in the last decade, the prevalence of thyroid cancer has increased in all population groups, but especially in Arab women. It is considered a slowly growing tumor with a low death rate. While it is less common in the general public, it is more common in Arabs, even though the rate is very small. Survival from thyroid cancer is over 90% over five years.

To avoid a wide variety of cancers, maintain normal weight over the years, without yo-yo dieting. Exercise regularly and minimize the number of fattening foods you eat. Youth should exercise daily, if possible, but at least three times a week. Cut the number of hours you spent sitting or lying down and watching TV.

Minimize the amount of high-calorie, salty and sugary foods you eat and prefer vegetables, fiber and fruit. Poultry and fish are much preferable to red and fatty meat. Prefer baking and cooking to grilling and frying meat. Whole wheat products are much more healthful that those made from while flour.

Eating garlic reduces the risk of colorectal cancer, according to recent research. There is no evidence, the experts say, that artificial sweeteners used in normal quantities raise the cancer risk, and they are preferable to sugar.

There is no agreement among scientists that eating organic foods are more effective in reducing cancer risks than ordinary food, the ICA said. Wash produce with water (and soap if possible). Avoid trans fats that are produced from turning vegetable oil to solid fat such as margarine.

::JPost

Israel is among the world’s most highly educated countries, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The organization’s 2011 edition of “Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators,” highlights Israel for its high percentage of the population in possession of post-secondary degrees. With 45% of Israelis completing university degrees, Israel ranks ahead of countries such as Japan (44%), the US (41%), the UK (37%), only lagging behind Canada (50%).

The statistic is especially significant considering Israel’s relatively low GDP per capita, which at $27,690 ranks the 12th lowest out of all 34 OECD member states.

The report also stated that Israel takes the OECD’s top spot in population change between 2000 and 2009, rising 19% over that span to 7.4 million.

Not everything was positive for Israel; the OECD report stated that the percentage of Israeli citizens obtaining post-secondary was slowing dramatically. In addition, Israel is one of only three countries where education expenditure as a proportion of GDP (43%) decreased.

::JPost

February 2, 2012

Toronto, ON – Today, the CBC reported that hackers in Europe have exposed an international network of white supremacists, including a list of 74 Canadians involved with hate organizations.

In response, Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, made the following statement:

“We were disturbed to read today’s report, which reminds us that classical antisemitism continues to exist, and occasionally inspire violence, here in Canada.

“Such toxic hatred disgusts the overwhelming majority of Canadians and stands in stark contrast to Canada’s core values. Today’s report should serve as a wake-up call for all of us to remain vigilant in standing against hate, regardless of the community that is targeted.”

-30-

For more information, contact:
Jordan Kerbel
Deputy Director of Communications
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

At the close of a positive and very constructive discussion, we are fully convinced of V-Network’s determination to ensure that its airwaves are not used as a platform for discriminatory statements.

We are pleased to have established a relationship of mutual trust with V-Network, which will help prevent the recurrence of unacceptable statements.

David Ouellette
Associate Director for Public Affairs (Québec)
Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

Mike Fegelman
Executive Director
HonestReporting Canada

Mr. Mark Adler (York Centre, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Foreign Affairs attended the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland. Today, they are visiting Israel. The ministers are attending a reception co-hosted by the Canadian embassy and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Israel Bureau.

This reception is a celebration of the long-standing friendship between Canada and Israel and the deepening alliance between our two countries. This visit is a reflection of the level of qualitative collaboration and consultation between Canada and Israel. The Prime Minister of Israel has said that there is no better friend to Israel than Canada.

Our government is proud of its unwavering support for Israel, especially at the United Nations. Canada has spoken up against the numerous United Nations resolutions critical solely of Israel. Our government is proud and unapologetic for its support for the only thriving democracy in the Middle East.

I wish the ministers all the best in their meetings in Israel and in their efforts to strengthen the relationship between Canada and Israel. Mazel tov.

Canada continues to tighten sanctions on Iran via the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA).

On Jan. 31, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced from Israel – where he and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty were on a weeklong diplomatic mission – that Canada had frozen the assets of three Iranian-born Canadians and five Iranian companies operating in the country, and prohibited them from conducting business here.

Yesterday’s announcement brings the total number of those affected by Canada’s use of SEMA to target Iran to 49 individuals and 339 businesses since 2010.

“Canada has taken aggressive action and has among the toughest sanctions against Iran in the world,” Baird said at a roundtable on Iran in Tel Aviv organized by the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies.

“These sanctions cover the known leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) and block virtually all financial transactions with Iran, including those with the Central Bank.”

He added that “Iran’s current leaders regularly turn a blind eye to their international human rights obligations and obfuscate their nuclear activities by blocking international attempts to verify the country’s claims. Canada will continue to work with the growing list of like-minded countries to limit Iran’s ability to further undercut global peace, prosperity and stability.”

Also participating in the Tel Aviv roundtable was Irwin Cotler, Liberal member of Parliament for Mount Royal and human rights activist, who has been advising Baird on the Iran file, as the foreign minister noted in a Jan. 31 opinion piece in the Globe and Mail.

Cotler has long advocated for tougher sanctions – economic and otherwise – on Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions and to put a halt to human rights abuses in that country.

Chief among those are to list the IRGC as a terrorist entity and to bring the Iranian regime under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the International Court of Justice on charges of incitement to genocide.

Canada has not yet pressed for those options either at home or on the world stage.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) was quick to applaud the government for its new round of sanctions via SEMA.

It said Ottawa’s increased sanctions target “front companies used by the Iranian regime to circumvent existing sanctions, entities known for funnelling weapons to the brutal regime in Syria, and three highly placed Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) officials

CIJA chair David Koschitzky said these sanctions “exemplify” the role Canada plays in helping curtail Iran’s quest for nuclear arms.

“We are gratified that Canada continues to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with likeminded nations in taking peaceful measures to confront the Iranian nuclear threat,” he said.

“The most recent UN report from the International Atomic Energy Agency paints a grim picture of Iran on the cusp of developing the capability for nuclear weapons. Combined with its funnelling of weapons and funds to terror groups around the world, the Iranian regime poses a grave threat to international peace and security. If these sanctions fail to convince the regime to abandon its dangerous course, Canada must be prepared to take further peaceful steps in response, such as listing the IRGC as a terrorist entity.”

Baird, Flaherty, Cotler and other Canadian representatives were scheduled to participate in a dinner reception in Jerusalem Feb. 1, hosted jointly by CIJA, the Canadian Embassy and the Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation (CIIRDF).